Manchester – The latest data on Islamophobia in the UK from the Islamophobia Response Unit (IRU) reveals a sustained increase in Islamophobia, with incidents involving children and blatant discrimination based on religion and race*.
This trend has continued since October 2023 with the increase sustained through a 236% increase in reported cases of Islamophobia between January and April 2024.
Separate from reported cases, Islamophobic incidents have increased by 300%.
This echoes what we are hearing from partner organisations and in discussions with the Police.
The increase in reported Islamophobia in the UK has happened despite a historic tendency by Muslims not to report incidents of Islamophobia to authorities due to distrust.
This indicates a significant improvement in awareness, which presents an opportunity to challenge Islamophobia through better interventions.
Majid Iqbal, CEO of the IRU, said:
“The impact of Islamophobia on Muslims in the UK is substantial in that it makes us feel both unsafe and unheard.”
“IRU emphasises the need for the press and leaders to call out Islamophobia, which includes anti-Muslim hate crimes as well as the narratives and policies that excuse or perpetrate them, so that communities can feel supported and can challenge Islamophobia.”
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*Two cases of Islamophobia taken on by the IRU during this period include:
Case Study 1: Manchester
In November/December 2023, a Muslim woman residing in Manchester contacted the IRU.
She reported that somebody had spray-painted the Star of David on her wall.
The incident was reported to the police and investigated as a hate crime.
Case Study 2: Gloucestershire
Our client’s son (the ‘Victim’) is a 14-year-old mixed-heritage male and a neurodiverse pre-16 learner at a College in Gloucestershire.
In December 2023, the Victim approached the IRU for support in relation to an incident at the College.
During a science lesson, another student had described the area in which he (the Victim) lived, as “rough”.
To this, the Victim’s teacher (the ‘Perpetrator’) responded: “Yes, that’s because there’s loads of Mosques there and they [Muslims] are inherently aggressive people”.
When several students told the Perpetrator her remark was Islamophobic, she smirked then continued with the lesson.
The Victim, who was the only Muslim in the class, was shocked and upset by the Perpetrator’s behaviour. He informed his mother who immediately contacted the College with a complaint.
The Perpetrator was told to apologise to the entire class, but the Victim was dissatisfied with this apology; she accused the students of having misunderstood her remark, effectively gaslighting the Victim and his classmates.
The Perpetrator then said what she had meant was that: “Half of Muslims are inherently aggressive; the other half are not”.
Once again, our client contacted the College to complain about the Perpetrator’s inappropriate comments.
Whilst awaiting a response, a further incident occurred during another science lesson. The Victim was ordered by the Perpetrator to read something aloud in front of the class; the teachers at the College are aware that, owing to the Victim’s autism, they should not ask him to do this.
As a result, the Victim – who was already stressed and exhausted by the ongoing situation – felt extremely uncomfortable, as though he had been singled out and picked on.
This made him very unhappy.
Since our client received an underwhelming response from the College which failed to adequately address the gravity of the situation, matters were then escalated.
The IRU supported the Victim and his mother in navigating the appeal process. Ultimately, our client’s complaint was upheld; the College issued the Victim with a formal written apology and has made a commitment to discipline the Perpetrator and implement mandatory Equality, Diversity and Inclusion training for staff, as well as regular wellbeing check-ins with the Victim.
For any enquiries, including information or interview requests, please contact: info@theiru.org.uk.